EXCUSE ME MISTER! WERE YOU THERE? | William Garvey |
"His grave a nation's heart shall be, His monument a people free." I had many childhood heroes who were examples of super human strength going where "No Man Has Gone Before!" Time expanded my knowledge of what a hero really is. What's more, heroes are easy to pick out for they usually have the letters FD, PD or US on their clothing. One hero made that tragic day of September 11, 2001 is my friend and co-worker, Lieutenant Tim Wren, a Troy, Michigan, firefighter. Tim was in charge of the 2001 Fallen Firefighter's Memorial. Coordinating the 2001 Fallen Firefighters' Memorial in the aftermath of 9-11 and the growing number of concerned people planning to attend, made it necessary to postpone the ceremony several times. Despite the trials, the ceremony went well. When President Bush made an unscheduled appearance to thank everyone and pay a special tribute of honor to all the fallen that year, he turned toward Tim as if to say, "Thank you." Tim saluted and President Bush saluted back! On the ride home, still dressed in firefighter uniforms, Tim and Lieutenant Jack Spreyer stopped for dinner and were approached by a five-year-old blond. Ever so quietly she said, "Excuse me mister. Were you there?" Tim answered, "Sweetheart, where do you mean?" "You know!" "Do you mean World Trade Center in New York?" "Yes!" The little girl replied. "Yes honey, we were there, along with a lot of our friends." The little girl handed them a piece of paper and with a smile asked, "Could I please have your autographs?" Humbly, the two firefighters signed the paper as her parents stood applauding. When Tim and Jack felt that life doesn't get any better, everyone in the restaurant rose to their feet and applauded them as the heroes they didn't know they were! While standing to thank everyone, a man came up behind them, put his arms around them both and said, "It is about time America had some real heroes!" Firemen have always done the things they do and they have done them everyday of their lives, but today they discovered something different! America was finally as proud of them as they were of America. When others look at me as a hero, May I remember that all things I do are because of You and may my actions be Holy and pleasing to You. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1).
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